Researchers at the University of Arizona have published a study highlighting how vocal changes in the zebra finch songbirds may help in understanding neurodegenerative disorders in people.
Published in the Neurobiology of Aging, the study finds that the birds’ song-correlated gene networks degrade with age. Despite the changes in these gene networks, the animal is still able to produce its song.
University of Arizona associate professor Julie E. Miller specializes in neuroscience and speech, language and hearing sciences. She says the songbirds fit well into the study.
“Songbirds are really great models to study human speech because their brains are wired very similarly to how our own brains are wired for speech and learning of speech,” she said.
Miller and the others did find vocal changes in pitch and duration in the song.
“Their song doesn't deteriorate, there are changes in their song so with aging there’s changes in their pitch and in how loud their songs are and the length of their songs,” she said.
Miller says the research on the zebra finches can help in better understanding how to diagnose and treat Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s disease.
